Sponichi reports that the Buffaloes have asked Akinobu Okada to take over the reigns for the Buffaloes next season after Sunday's game ended in a tie and guaranteed the Buffaloes a last place finish.

The Buffaloes were also considering WBC pitching coach Hisashi Yamada as a possible replacement, but ultimately decided on goin with Okada.

Okada does have connections to the team. He joined the Orix Blue Wave for the final 2 seasons of his career. And after he retired in 1995, he became the Blue Wave's Ni-gun assistant manager and batting coach in 1996, before leaving for the Tigers in 1998.

According to another Sponichi article, the Buffaloes may make an official announcement naming Okada as their next manager as early as October 2nd.